R. Aryeh Leib was born near Balta, Ukraine in 1845 to his father Yaacov Nisson a student of Rabbi Refoel of Bershad. His mother Tziporah was the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Zev Wolf Segal. He grew up in a town mostly occupied by Hasidic Judaism of Rabbi Refoel of Bershad, however he was a student of Rabbi Dovid Twersky of Tolna and Rabbi Yitzchok Yoel Rabinowitz (1815-1878) of Kantikaziva (Prybuzhany, Mykolaivs"ka oblast).
He published one of the first books on Chassidus in America titled In Aryeh Leib"s book he relates several stories involving Rabbi Avroham and himself at the age of twelve. Aryeh Leib died in his Brooklyn home on December 19, 1928 and was buried in Old Montefiore Cemetery in Glendale, Queens
Aryeh Leib became rabbi of the Ukrainian town of Vradiyivka (Mykolaiv Oblast) which is near the southern border of modern Ukraine. He served in several capacities in addition to his general rabbinic duties, including shechita or kosher animal slaughtering and as being a mohel for ritual circumcision.
He was the catalyst for the founding of a Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick) organization and various charitable institutions.
The founding of these organizations is detailed in a later chapter in his book While in Amsterdam awaiting his ships embarkment he was the guest of the Chief Rabbi.
After arriving at Ellis Island he settled in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York which was the largest Jewish neighborhood outside of the Lower East Side at that time. He had a close relationship with many of his American Rabbinic colleagues.
As well as The Rabbis Dovid Mordechai Twersky of Tolna-New York and Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Twersky of Tolna-Philadelphia.
He published his book in 1926. lieutenant was one of if not the first books on the topic of chassidus published in America at that time. lieutenant was printed with several approbation from leading rabbinic figures.
Including Rabbi Yehoushua Heschel Rabinowitz, the Rebbe of Monostritz, Rabbi Dovid Moredechai Twersky, Rebbe of Tolna and Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Twersky, Rebbe of Tolna - Philadelphia.
The sefer contains many essays of recorded sermons used in Radifke. lieutenant includes stories and teachings from tens of Rabbis of earlier generations.
Quoted several times are Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Eliyahu of Villna, the Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Dovid"l Tolner.
